KATHMANDU: Caretaker Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said his party, the CPN-UML, would not join the new government likely to be formed under the leadership of CPN Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Oli told a Maoist team led by Dahal, who had reached the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar this afternoon, that the party could not join the government to be formed in coalition with the Nepali Congress as the NC earlier had refused to join the UML-led government.

"The Nepali Congress has been making its view public in the Parliament as well at other public forums that the Congress and the UML should not be in the government together," Oli's press adivisor Pramod Dahal quoted Oli as telling Dahal, "If the Congress is ready for national consensus, it should clarify its position publicly at first."

During the meeting, Oli also expressed his dissatisfaction over the understanding between NC and CPN MC to hold local body elections by mid-April next years, for which the UML was not consulted.

He also questioned intention of the NC-Maoist alliance as the parties are planning to change the government and hold local body elections around the same time in March-April next year, according to Oli's press advisor.

The PM, however, maintained that major political parties should come together on issues of national interest, according to Dahal's Secretariat.

While Dahal was accompanied by another Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the UML was represented by leaders Bhim Rawal, Subas Chandra Nembang, Bishnu Rimal and Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal.

Of late, the NC-Maoist leaders have expedited political parleys seeking more support as they are preparing to form a new government probably next week.

Earlier today, top leaders of the NC and CPN MC had held a meeting with the United Democratic Madhesi Front in a bid to woo the protesting alliance to support their new coalition.

The NC-Maoist alliance had even formed a nine-member task force incorporating representatives of the UDMF to reach a political understanding for the new government.